Substation upgrade improves reliability of Dhi Qar electrical distribution system (Dhi Qar)
Multi-National Force-Iraq
Thursday, 07 May 2009
GULF REGION
News release #090507-2
May 7, 2009
Substation upgrade improves reliability of Dhi Qar electrical distribution system
By Norris Jones
Gulf Region South
Dhi Qar Province, Iraq— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division has completed and delivered a modern, reliable electrical distribution system to the Minister of Electricity in Dhi Qar province. The $24 million effort that spanned three years will provide residents of Dhi Qar with stable, reliable electricity.
The electrical work was done as two separate projects. The first project, which began in 2006, was the construction of a new $14.8 million, 132-kilovolt overhead transmission line linking the al-Shatra substation and the Nasiriyah power plant. The second project was a $9.2 million upgrade to the 132/33/11 kilovolt al-Shatra substation and the installation of additional equipment at the Nasiriyah power plant.
"The main job of a 132 kilovolt substation is to take high-voltage electricity and convert it to 33 kilovolt and 11 kilovolt for neighborhood distribution,” explained Ali Mohammed, an Iraqi engineer working with USACE. “About 500,000 residents are benefitting from the Al Shatra substation upgrade.”
The project also involved the installation of additional equipment at the Nasiriyah power plant including a new 132-kilovolt bay with circuit breaker, disconnectors, and on-line monitors for SCADA (Supevisory Control and Data Acquisition).
“The substation upgrade, which connected the new transmission line to the al-Shatra station, began in 2007 and is now fully operational,” said Mohammed.
Final testing is under way and scheduled to be completed by the end of May.
“Iraqi workers installed a new power transformer, renovated existing switchgears for neighborhood distribution, installed new control panels, circuit breakers and disconnectors,” Mohammed said. “It’s all new state-of-the-art, high quality equipment.”
The improvements provide a more stable, reliable way to transmit electricity to the substation, which serves communities in the immediate area and surrounding communities as far away as 44 miles.
“Before this work was completed, Dhi Qar residents continually faced unscheduled power outages,” Mohammed explained. “Network overloads were a common problem shutting down the entire system. The old overhead transmission line had to be disconnected. The Ministry of Electricity now has a modern, reliable electrical distribution system and residents there are seeing the difference.”
The project’s construction benefitted the local economy by employing nearly 60 local Iraqis on the construction crew. The substation permanently employs 40 Iraqi personnel.
Since 2004 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq has completed more than 4,500 projects, valued at nearly $7 billion. USACE projects have strengthened and stabilized the electrical transmission grid through the completion of 122 substations and 11 major overhead transmission line projects.
-30-
For high resolution photos, visit www.grd.usace.army.mil/news/releases/index.asp
Note: Norris Jones is the public affairs officer for the Gulf Region South district, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iraq. For more information, contact public affairs at 540.665.5339 or email requests to cegrd.pao@usace.army.mil. For more information on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq, visit www.grd.usace.army.mil.
The Gulf Region Division, headquartered in Baghdad, is a joint effort comprising Civilians, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Contractors. GRD provides quality and sustainable engineering in support of civil/military construction in Iraq. GRD and its Iraqi partners are building a strong foundation for Iraq's future.
BUILDING STRONGSM is the official slogan of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
